The University of the Fraser Valley women's volleyball team wrapped up the regular season with a flourish, defeating the Columbia Bible College Bearcats in three straight sets on Saturday evening.

On Senior Night for graduating fifth-year players Cassidy King and Chelsea Kidd, the Cascades (11-13) held off a determined Bearcats squad (2-22) by scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-16. 

UFV advances to the PACWEST conference championships at Douglas College in New Westminster this coming week as the No. 4 seed, and will face the College of the Rockies Avalanche in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

"I think it was evident that we were fighting some emotion with the fifth-years tonight," Cascades head coach Janelle Rozema said. "But I think they did a really good job of identifying the way they were feeling and still finding ways to score points and come up with solutions."
 

???? | Seniors @cassidyleeking and Chelsea Kidd reflect on tonight's win vs. @cbcBearcats, their five years at @goUFV, and playoffs next weekend! #GoCascades pic.twitter.com/0UKLATszN1

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) February 16, 2020

In the opening set, the Cascades built a 15-11 lead after a kill and ace from Kristen McBride on back-to-back points. The Bearcats clawed their way back to even terms at 17-17, but McBride reeled off three straight kills to give UFV some breathing room and they finished it off 25-20.

CBC went up 13-10 in the second, but UFV middle Alysha Cooper was in on three straight blocks as UFV surged into the lead. The hosts wrapped up the set on an Amanda Matui kill. 

The Cascades dominated the third set – back-to-back aces from Matsui staked them to a 6-1 lead, and they cruised from there. 

Cooper paced the Cascades with 13 points, including five kills and four aces, and Kidd racked up a team-high 11 kills. Matsui chipped in with seven kills and 14 digs, and McBride added 10 digs.

Megan Polant (11 kills) and Janae Bruinsma (10 kills) led the way offensively for the Bearcats.

Seniors Kidd and King were honoured in a post-game ceremony, and Rozema lauded their skill and leadership ability.

"Their maturity and their experience have meant a lot to us," Rozema said. "They have a lot of leadership skills, and they know how to encourage and support their teammates but still play well themselves.

"With Chelsea, when the points matter most, everyone on the bench from players to coaching staff know she's going to do something positive when the ball comes her way. And Cassidy's leadership ability is impeccable – she's gifted at identifying what the team needs, and then working to lead the way in improving."